Earring having tubular end portions secured by cast material

ABSTRACT

A pierced earring and method and apparatus for making same, wherein the earring is cast in a mold, and the major portion of the earring body is substantially solid throughout. The mold for forming the earring is provided with opposed projections that enable inwardly extending tubular end portions to be joined to the cast body. After the earring body is cast, an ear wire is pivotally joined to one of the tubular end portions, and the free end of the wire is insertable into the other tubular end portion for mounting the earring on an ear lobe of a wearer.

United States Patent [191 Dansereau [451 Jan. 21, 1975 [75] Inventor: Raymond R. Dansereau, Warwick,

[73] Assignee: Beatrix Jewelry Company,

Pawtucket, RI.

[22] Filed: June 11, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 368,658

[52] US. Cl 63/12, 164/112, 164/108, 164/333 [51] Int. Cl. A44c 7/00 [58] Field of Search 63/12, 13; 164/231, 332, 164/112, 108, 4, 36, 333

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,324,808 12/1919 Gibbs et al 63/12 Pintarelli 63/l2 Eberlc lo4/l 12 X Primary ExuminerF. Barry Shay Attorney, Agent, or FirmSalter & Michaelson {57] ABSTRACT A pierced earring and method and apparatus for making same, wherein the earring is cast in a mold, and the major portion of the earring body is substantially solid throughout. The mold for forming the earring is provided with opposed projections that enable inwardly extending tubular end portions to be joined to the cast body. After the earring body is cast, an ear wire is pivotally joined to one of the tubular end portions, and the free end of the wire is insertable into the other tubular end portion for mounting the earring on an ear lobe of a wearer.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures EARRING HAVING TUBULAR END PORTIONS SECURED BY CAST MATERIAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an earring construction and the apparatus and method of manufacture thereof and has particular application in the manufacture of the so-called pierced-type earring.

Pierced earrings and particularly those having a hoop configuration are normally fabricated of metallic materials, wherein the material is machined, stamped and/or rolled in a conventional manner to obtain the required circular configuration. The hoop earring that is formed of tubular stock is formed in the hoop configuration by bending or rolling the tubular stock, until the free ends are located in spaced relation, an ear wire thereafter being inserted therebetween. Earrings formed by such prior known techniques are usually hand worked to the required configuration, which necessarily increases the cost of the earring. Hoop earrings that are formed of flat stock are simple to manufacture and are relatively inexpensive, but they do not have the ornamental appeal of the hoop earring that is formed of tubular stock and have not been successfully merchandised.

Although earrings of the hoop type have been cast heretofore, they normally have been cast in half pieces which have been soldered together to form the finished hoop construction. Here again, the soldering step required an additional manufacturing procedure that increased the cost of the finished earring.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a pierced earring and to the method and apparatus for the manufacture thereof, wherein the earring includes an ornamental body that is preferably formed in a hoop configuration. The ornamental body of the hoop pierced earring as embodied herein is cast in an especially designed mold, wherein one of the die sections of the mold is formed with extensions that project in opposite directions so that when the body is cast, tubular end portions are joined to the body and are located in spaced relation. An ear wire is pivotally mounted in one of thetubular end portions, the free end of the ear wire being insertable into the other tubular end portion when the earring is mounted on the ear lobe of the wearer.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to teach a method of forming a pierced earring, wherein the body portion of the earring is cast in a predetermined configuration, the casting step providing for the joining of tubular inwardly extending end portions to the body and that are located in spaced apart relation for receiving an ear wire therebetween.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pierced earring comprising an ornamental body having inwardly extending end portions joined thereto in spaced apart relation, the body being'cast in a substantially solid construction, and each of the end portions being tubular in construction for receiving an ear wire therebetween, the ear wire being pivotally secured to one of the tubular end portions.

Still another object is to provide apparatus for forming a pierced earring, wherein the earring is cast, the apparatus including a mold that comprises an upper die section and a lower die section, the die sections having complementary cavities formed therein that conform to the configuration'of the earring that is cast. An upstanding projection is formed in one of the die sections and has outwardly projecting extensions formed thereon that provide for receiving tubular end portions thereon that are joined to the cast portion of the earring during the casting operation, an ear wire being joined to one of the tubular end portions and being insertable into the other end portion when the earring is mounted on the ear lobe of a wearer.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention shall become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing which illustrates the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the earring embodied in the present invention and as mounted on an ear lobe of a wearer;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the mold for forming the earring of the subject invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view with parts shown in section illustrating the location of the tubular end portions as joined to the cast body and that receive the ear wire therebetween.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawing and particularly to FIG. 1, the pierced earring as manufactured in accordance with the present invention as illustrated and is generally indicated at '10. As shown, the pierced earring I0 comprises a body 12 that has a hoop-like configuration and, as will be described, is cast in a one-piece construction. The body 12 includes inwardly extending tubular end portions 14 and 16 that in the position of use of the earring 10 are located at the uppermost end thereof. The tubular end portions 14 and 16 are each separately formed of any convenient metallic material and are preshaped to the tubular configuration for being joined to the cast body 12 as will be described. Pivotally joined to the end portion by an end loop 18 is an ear wire 20 that is also formed with a free end 22, the free end 22 projecting into the tubular end portion 16 when the earring 10 is mounted on the ear lobe 23 of the wearer.

Referring to FIG. 4, the inwardly extending tubular end portion 14 is formed with an inclined outer edge 24 and has an inner cavity 26 that is formed therein. An opening 28 is located in the upper wall of the tubular end portion 14, and in that portion that extends beyond the lower wall of the tubular end portion 14. The opening 28 receives the end loop 18 of the ear wire 20 therein for pivotally mounting the ear wire 20 on the end portion 14. The spaced tubular end portion 16 as joined to the cast body 12 is formed with an inner cavity 30 in which the free end 22 of the ear wire extends when the earring 10 is mounted on the ear lobe of the wearer.

Unlike hoop style earrings formed heretofore, the earring I0 of the present invention is preferably cast of a so-called white metal alloy, such as zinc-aluminum or tin-lead, which is relatively inexpensive and can be easily poured in liquidform into a mold to form the desired earring configuration. Referring now to FIGS. 2

and 3, the mold as utilized in casting the earring is illustrated and is generally indicated at 32. The mold 32 includes an upper die section 34 having a cavity 36 formed therein of any desired shape or configuration; and as shown, the cavity 36 is generally circular, a space 38 which is defined as a recess separating the ends of the cavity 36 indicated at 39 and 40 in FIG. 2. Communicating with the cavity 36 is a groove 41 that has access to the exterior edge of the die section 34, the groove 41 providing for the entry of the casting material into the mold as will be described. A lower die section 42 cooperates with the upper die section 34 to form the complete mold 32 and also has a cavity 43 formed therein, the configuration of which corresponds to the cavity 36 and is complementary thereto to define a complete passage for receiving cast material during the casting operation. For this purpose a groove 44 is formed in the die section 40 and cooperates with the groove 41 to form an opening when the die sections are located in engaging relation for receiving the cast material therein.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the lower die section 42 is provided with an upstanding projection 46 that is located in corresponding position to the space 38 in the die section 34 and is positioned between adjacent sections of the cavity 43. The space which is formed as part of the cavity 36 also accommodates the projection 46 when the die sections are closed. Projecting outwardly from the projection 46 and overlying portions of the cavity 42 are extensions 48, the extensions 48 cooperating to receive the separately formed tubular end portions 14 and 16 when the hoop earring 10 is to be cast.

During a casting operation, the tubular end portions 14 and 16 are first placed on the extension 48 so that a portion thereof extends outwardly of the extension 48 as seen in FIG. 3. The die section 34 is then mounted on the die section 42 in firm mating relation with respect thereto, the cavities 36 and 43 being located in cooperating, aligned relation. The casting material is poured in liquid form through the passage defined by the grooves 41 and 44 and enters the cavities 36 and 43, which are located in aligned relation. The casting material fills the aligned cavities 36 and 43 and also fills the interior of the tubular end portions 14 and 16 that extend beyond the extensions 48 as indicated at 50 and 52, respectively, thereby firmly joining the tubular end portions to the cast body. Since the die sections 34 and 42 are formed of a rubber or rubberized material, the cast material after setting can be easily removed therefrom following separation of the die sections. The completed earring as cast includes the hoop configuration which is formed with the tubular inwardly extending end portions 14 and 16, the cavities 26 and 30 being formed in the end portions upon removal thereof from the extensions 48. After the casting of the earring 10, the ear wire 20 is mounted in place by extending an end thereof through the opening 28 and then bending the end to form the loop 18 as indicated to pivotally locate the ear wire 20 in position.

In use of the earring 10, the free end 22 of the ear wire is projected through a suitable opening formed in an ear lobe of the wearer, and the free end 22 is then inserted into the tubular end portion 16 as indicated in FIG. 4 to lock the earring on the wearers ear lobe.

It is understood that the body 12 of the earring may be suitably ornamented as required; and if further desired, the body 12 of the earring may be cast in other configurations, the only requirement being that the end portions 14 and 16 are secured to the body for attachment of the ear wire 20 thereto.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifi' cations and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing for the spirit and scope of the underlying invention concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A pierced earring comprising an ornamental body having inwardly extending end portions mounted thereon in spaced apart relation, the body being formed in a substantially solid construction and each of the end portions being tubular in construction, an ear wire having an end pivotally joined to one of said tubular end portions, the other end of said ear wire being insertable into the other tubular end portion when the earring is mounted on the ear lobe of a wearer, said body having a hoop configuration, said inwardly directed tubular end portions being located in spaced relation at the top of the hoop when the earring is mounted on the earlobe of the wearer and being separately preformed, said body including means integrally cast therewith at said ends for firmly joining said tubular end portions to said body, said means comprising cast material received in an end of each tubular end portion to secure it to said body, the remaining interior portion of each tubular end portion defining a cavity. 

1. A pierced earring comprising an ornamental body having inwardly extending end portions mounted thereon in spaced apart relation, the body being formed in a substantially solid conStruction and each of the end portions being tubular in construction, an ear wire having an end pivotally joined to one of said tubular end portions, the other end of said ear wire being insertable into the other tubular end portion when the earring is mounted on the ear lobe of a wearer, said body having a hoop configuration, said inwardly directed tubular end portions being located in spaced relation at the top of the hoop when the earring is mounted on the ear lobe of the wearer and being separately preformed, said body including means integrally cast therewith at said ends for firmly joining said tubular end portions to said body, said means comprising cast material received in an end of each tubular end portion to secure it to said body, the remaining interior portion of each tubular end portion defining a cavity. 